The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-02
WHITTIER'S BOYHOOD.
Some "Reminiscences Which Prove Anew that
Poet Is Born, Not Made.

Some "Reminiscences Which Prove Anew that
aPoet Is Born, Not Made.
W. H. Rideine in October st. Nicholas.
Whittier began to rhyme very early and kept
his gift secret from all. except his oldest SIS
ter fearing that his father. who was a prosac
man, would think that he was wasting time. He
wrote under the fence. in the attic, In the barn
wherever he could escape observation; and as
pen and ink were not always available.
he sometimes used chalk and even
charcoal. Great the surprise OF the
family when some of his verses were unearthsd,
literally uuearthed, from underneath heap OF
rubbish in garrett; but his father frowned
upon these evidences of the bent of his mind.
not out of unkindness, but because he doubted
the sufficiency Of the boys education for
literary life, and did not wish to inspire him
with hopes which might never be fulfilled.
His sister had faith in him. nevertheless and.
without his knowledge. she sent one of his
poems to tho editor of the Free Press, a news
paper published in Newburyport Whittier was
helping his father 10 repair stone wall by the
roadside when the carrier flung copy of the
paper to him. and, unconscious that thing OF
his was in it. he opened it and glanced up and
down the columns. His eyes fell on some verses
called The Exile's Departure"
Fond scenes which delighted my youthful existence,
With feelings of sorrow bid ye adieu-
A lasting adieu; for now. dim in the distance.
The shores OF Hibernia recede from my view
Farewell the cliffs. tempest beaten and gray, .
Which guard the loved shores of my own native
Farewell to the village and sail-shadowed bay,
The forest,crowned hill and the water washed
His eyes swan: it was his own poem, the first
he had in print.
what is the matter with thee! his father
demanded, seeing how daZed he was; but,
though he resumed his work on the wall. Ee
could not speak, and he had TO steal glance at
the paper again and again. before he could con-
vince hirnse that he was not dreaming. Sure
enough, the poem was there with his initial at
the foot of it,-"W., Haverhill. June l.. 1896"
and better still, the editorial notice: IF W.
at Haverhill, will continue to favor ns with
pieces beautiful the one inserted in our poetl-
cal department of to-day, we shall esteem 1t
favor"
The editor thought so much Of 1.-THE Exile's
Departure and some other verses which fol-
lowed 1t from the same hand, that he resolved
to make the acquaintance OF his new contributor,
and he drove over to him Whittier. then
bow of eighteen, summoned from the
fields where he was working. clad only In
shirt. trousers and straw hat. and
having slipped in at the back door so that he
might put his shoes and coat on, came
into the room with shrinking diffidence. almost
unable to speak. and bushing like maiden"
The editor a young man himself. not more
than twenty-five o twenty three, and the TREND
ship that began with this visit lasted until death
ended it. How strong and how close it was, and
how it was made to serve the cause OF freedom,
NAV be learned in the life of the great aooli-
ZIONIST William Lloyd Garrison, which was the
editors name.